Gina Gershon Says Small-Minded Agents Told Her You Cant Play a Lesbian in Bo

Publish date: 2024-09-30

Gina Gershon recently said on the “It Happened in Hollywood” podcast (via People) that she was warned against starring in 1996’s “Bound” by her agents because the role was a lesbian character. The actor remembered her agents telling her specifically that she “can’t play a lesbian” because it would tank her Hollywood career.

“It was a great script and I could tell they were incredible directors, but my agents were like, ‘We will not let you do this movie. You are ruining your career,'” Gershon said. “‘We will not be able to let you represent. You will never work again.'”

“I just said, ‘Oh, well, I guess if you can’t represent me, I’ll go somewhere else.’ You know? No hard feelings,” Gershon continued, noting that she fully believed in the script written by the Wachowskis. “I said, first of all, it’s so shortsighted to say, ‘Oh, this is a lesbian movie.’ I mean, they happen to be lesbians. They happen to be into women, but it’s really a movie about trust.”

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Gershon starred in “Bound” as Corky, an ex-con who starts a relationship with the girlfriend (Jennifer Tilly) of a mafioso boss. The two women come up with a plan to steal $2 million of his money. The film, which the Wachowskis also directed before their careers exploded with “The Matrix” franchise, remains a queer classic. Gershon said her agents were “small-minded and shortsighted” to warn her about playing a lesbian character.

“Plus, when does the girl get to play the hero, you know?” Gershon added about her love of the character. “I thought, well, I could cut off my hair, cut off my nails, have no makeup. I get the girl. I get the car. I screw over the mob. It’s a win-win all around.”

Listen to Gershon’s full interview on the “It Happened in Hollywood” podcast here.

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